“Yeah.” Gabe pointed to the pattern from a hiking shoe.

“Good job.”

Chewing the sweet oatmeal bar, Gabe followed the tracks for a few more feet. Yep, this was the way.

He raised his voice. “Over here. Fall in.”

As he led the way, it felt good to have Bull at his back. The others followed in a fan pattern, watching for anything he might miss.

When they reached the forest, Gabe found muddy footprints and scraped bark on a trunk where the kid had scrambled up a tree.

Bull pointed out a deeper footprint where the boy had jumped down later. “He probably waited to be sure the sow was gone.”

“There’s no blood.” Dante’s comment made everyone smile.

“The sow never caught him. He’s just scared and”—Gabe sighed as the footprints led right into the forest—“he’s lost the way back.”

Hell. Gabe glanced at the sky again. If they didn’t find Niko in another hour, he’d call in SAR dogs from Soldotna. He motioned to Guzman and Erica. “Mark the path, if you would, please.”

They took out flagging.

A while later, Bull knelt and showed where a broken patch of grass was starting to spring back upright. “We’re catching up to him.”

“Yeah, we’re close.” Gabe nudged his brother. “You have a voice, bro. Use it.”

“Niko. Niko!” Bull’s roar could probably be heard in Rescue.

The searchers’ startled laughter faded as they listened.

And got a response.

“Here. I’m he-re!” The boy’s voice was faint—and broke on the second here. But the kid was alive. Able to shout.

Thank fuck. Gabe had to clear the thickness from his throat before yelling, “Stay put, Niko. We’re coming. Stay where you are.”

Stepping back, Gabe let the others surge forward. His crew had worked hard—and this was the best reward ever.

They found the child curled up in the hollow of a fallen tree. Wet, shaking with cold…and alive.

Relief weakened Gabe’s knees. And the impact of a little body hitting him made him stagger.

“I knew you’d come, Chief. Knew you’d find me.” The kid burrowed against him, skinny arms clinging like vines.

Gabe felt his heart turn to a slushy mess. “I think about everyone in town is out here looking for you.” And it was the truth.

Hell of a town.

Dante tossed him a blanket, and Gabe wrapped it around the kid before lifting him up. “Let’s get you back to your family. Your pa’s gonna have some interesting scars, but looks like he’ll be all right.”

Niko sagged and then buried his face against Gabe’s neck and cried.

Gabe had to blink back his own fucking tears.

They’d walked about a mile before the kid’s sobs turned to snuffles, and his head lifted.

Good enough. Smiling, Gabe ruffled his hair. “So, how’s your new dog doing?”